tree

Tinne (holly)

 


tinne/ holly
chan iarr an gleann seo
rìgh an t-saoghail
ann a shìodan ’s
a chrùin de dh’òr
is rìgh nan cnoc,
an gorm is sgarlaid,
cruaidh air faire

’s nan saoileadh iad
gur ceannairceach
righ meanglach buan
a ghlinne seo,
na saoileadh iad
gur géilleir e
a chromas druim

bu saighdear e
a bhiathas ian,
bheir dìon do thaigh
an aghaidh buidseachd
sìdhichean is spréidh,
fir-tàileisg ann, is
deirge gréin na dhearc
this glen has no place
for the world’s king
with his silks and
his golden crowns,
see the king of the hills
all scarlet and green
keep his steel watch

don’t let them think
of him as rebel,
resilient branchy
king of this glen,
don’t let them think
that he will yield
or stoop his back

he’s a soldier
who’ll feed the birds,
protect your house
from witchcraft,
fairies, livestock,
he’s chessmen, with
sun’s red in his fruit
poem by aonghas macneacail picture by simon fraser
tinne